Musical block.



W. H. WEBER.

MUSICAL BLOCK.

Arrucmon msu JULY 5.1911.

1,276,839. Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

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' @141m n 61', 5l/@Mmm l HAK/613610 W @Zw f' W/Qff/V l WILLIAM II. WEBER, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

MUSICAL" ELocK.

VSpecification of Letters Patent. Patented A1102 27, 1918.

. Applicatienli'iled .Tilly ,5, 1917. Serial No. '178,539.

To all 11n/mm, t may concern.'

Be it. known that I, VILLIAM H. WEBER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Blocks, of which the following is a specilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In the operation and distribution of the various instruments of percussion played by the drummer or trap-man of an orchestra, it is peculiarly desirable that the instruments be within easy range of the operator so that he can produce his effect by reaching any one of the instruments he desires without changing his position.

This invention relates to musical blocks and to a disposition thereof whereby the trap-man can easily reach them with his drumstick or other means, and play them in combination with a drum or like instrument, producing the desired runs and like effect with very slight effort.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a view in elevation of an arrangement of musical blocks embodying the invention mounted on the rim of a bass drum; Y

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on or about line II-II of Fig. l, and

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the blocks.

Referring to the drawings, a musical block of suitable material, preferably of teak wood or the like, is mounted on a clamp 2 so as to be secured by a thumb screw and clipped to a suitable support, such as the rim 5 of a bass drum. The block has a lateral slot 6 therein, separating the base portion thereof from the upper part, the latter forming a vibrating' plate, the pitch of which when struck, is dependent upon the area cut away when the slot is formed. The size of the slot determines the pitch of the block. Y

A stringer 7, preferably of metal, bent as indicated to correspond to the steps of a stair stringer, is rigidly secured to the base and back of the block l and extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, a strip of felt 8 or like material beingyinterposed between the block and the Stringer. A sec- 'ond block 9 is secured in overlying relation to the block l on the clip 7. A pair of brackets 10 on the block l with interposed pads ll, serve to steady the block 9, there being a screw 12 or the like loosely engaging in a slit 13 of the adjacent part of the bracket 10, which connection allows a certain freedom of motion and vibration, while preventing' any dislodgment. Similarly another block 14 and an upper one 15 are secured to the stringer 7 each with steady brackets l2 and interposed pads l1. Preferably the blocks are arranged in the usual musical series, running upwardly, through C, E, G and C. Obviously any other disposition and arrangement of pitch can be made to provide the necessary tone effects.

Because of the arrangement of the blocks in different planes, one above the other, the position of the mouth of each slot is such that the sound thrown out therefrom is not muffled by the adjacent block as would be the effect if the blocks were arranged on straight supports, as in the Xylophone arrangement, with but a slight interval separating them. Furthermore, the position of the blocks enables the operator to produce runs, trills or rapid staccato effects with a very slight movement of the hand, a very necessary arrangement for the trap player of an orchestra. v

Obviously, changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and Ido not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

W'hat I claim is 1. A musical instrument comprising a stepped Stringer Vand wood blocks mounted thereon in musical sequence, each block having a slot in the outer face thereof that separates the base from the upper portion of the block for the major part of the block area.

2.A A comprising musical instrument sounding blocks each having a lateral slot separating the base thereof from the major part of the upper portion of the block,.lthe blocks being mounted in stepped relation and musical sequence.

3. A musical instrument comprising wood blocks each having a base portion and a vibrating plate secured along the major part of the marginal portion to the base, the remainder of the base being separated by an interval from the vibrating plate.

4. A musical instrument comprising blocks of suitable material and different pitch, each Consisting of a base and a vibrating plate formed by a lateral slot in the 5 block, a stepped Stringer, and means securing the several blocks thereto in musical Sequence.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM H. WEBER.

lVitnesses C. F. WEBER, C. R. STIGKNEY.

Copie: o! thin patent may be obtained for ive ce'nts 'a'c'h, 'by' iddlil'f the Commissioner t Intenta,

Washington, D. 0." 

